Spring-operated door silencer

ABSTRACT

A slam preventing noise silencing door check for retentive attachment to a spring-operated door comprising an adapter bracket capable of being fixedly mounted on a predetermined area of the jamb striking face of said door. A pendulous member or unit embodying an elongated arm. An upper end of the arm is swingably mounted on a shaft carried by said adapter bracket. The swingable lower end of the arm is provided with a cushioned boblike bumper capable of swinging and momentarily chocking and lodging itself between contacting surfaces of the jamb and door face. The noise silencing bumper then frees and releases itself and automatically swings to and assumes a neutral out-of-the-way position. For sensitively regulated results the bracket is provided with adjustable hanger means and regulatable limit stop means.

United States Patent 1 OBrien;

Knarreborg Apr. 2, 1974 v SPRING-OPERATED DOOR SILENCER [57] I ABSTRACT [76] Inventor: Otto H. Knarreborg, PO. Box 427, A slam preventingnoise silencing door check for re- Alexandria, Minn. 56308 tentive attachment to a spring-operated door comprising an adapter bracket capable of being fixedly [22] Flled 1972 mounted on a predetermined area of the jamb striking [2l] Appl. No.: 319,738 face of said door. A pendulous member or unit em- I bodying an elongated arm. An upper end of the arm is i swingably mounted on a shaft carried by said adapter [52] US. Cl. 16/83 bracket. The Swin able lower end of the am is [5]] Int Cl E05f 5/04 g p 58 d /83 86 A vided with a cushioned bob-like bumper capable of 1 0 can swinging and momentarily chocking and lodging itself between contacting surfaces of the jamb and door face. The noise silencing bumper then frees and re- [56'] Reference? Cited leases itself and automatically swings to and assumes a UNITED STATES PATENTS neutral out-of-the-way position. For sensitively regu- 463,82l v ll/l891 Wright 16/83 lated results the bracket is provided with adjustable 2,687,54 8/ 954 Pric n 16/86 A hanger means and regulatable limit stop means. 3,200,434 8/1965 .larnot 16/86 A 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A.

1 SPRING-OPERATED DOOR SILENCER The present invention relates to slam minimizing and noise silencing checks for spring-closed horizontally swinging doors and pertains, more particularly, to an advance in the art which is characterized, broadly stated, by a pendulous device or unit, an adapter bracket pivotally supporting said unit and wherein the pivoted arm portion of the unit is provided at a lower end with a bob-like suitably cushioned bumper capable of momentarily lodging itself between contacting surfaces of the jamb and door and subsequently freeing itself to swing to and assume a neutral or out-of-the-way position.

Persons conversant with the art to which the present invention relates are aware that many and varied styles and forms of mechanical door checks have been devised and have met with widespread adoption and use. The slam preventing and noise silencing door check herein disclosed has to do with a self-contained readily applicable attachment which lends itself to practical use whether the door is of an inside or an outside swinging type.

Although structurally and functionally unlike the disclosed inventions limited background information may be had by referring to U.S. Pat. No. 1,044,225, granted on Nov. 12, 1912 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,510,873, granted on Oct. 7, 1924.

As will be hereinafter more fully apreciated, the disclosed invention seeks to improve upon and reduce the number of component parts embodied in the overall combination, thereby not only increasing the efficiency of the attachment as a whole, but also rendering the same less costly to manufacture and to otherwise simplify factors of production, installation, sale and usage.

Briefly the concept comprehends a slam preventing noise silencing ready-to-use attachment for the jamb striking face of a spring-operated door. A hollow open bottom rectangular or equivalent housing provides a simple and practical adapter bracket. The horizontal top wall of this housing or bracket embodies an attaching flange permitting the back wall of the housing or bracket to be fastened flatwise against the desired door surface. A first horizontal screw-threaded shaft is located in the hollow portion of the housing and bridges the space between the end walls and has journals mounted for rotation in bearings provided therefor in the respective end walls. A simple nut is adjustably threaded on the shaft and has a depending member fashioned into a hanger eye. A complemental pendulum or pendulous unit is characterized by a vertically elongated U-shaped arm or yoke whose bight portion at the upper end is pivotally hung and suspendedfrom the hanger eye. A sleeve is provided at the lower end and the sleeve has an axial screw-threaded bore. A screw-threaded rod is screwed upwardly through and beyond the sleeve and has a lower headed end portion. The head, in the embodiment disclosed is characterized by a compressibly resilient ball-type bumper, that is, a bumper which is swivelly mounted on the lower end portion of the screw-threaded rod. This ball is adapted to momentarily lodge and chock itself between the oriented surfaces of the jamb and door, respectively. As the door approaches its final closing stage the bob-like ball or bumper automatically tilts and frees itself and swings to and then hangs in a neutral out-of-the-way position. The pendulum is gravity operated and swings out in the desired manner to check and silence the door in a self-evident manner. The ball absorbs the shock, prevents undesirable slamming, silences the noise and swings out of the way to permit complete closing of the door.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing an upper swingable corner portion of a spring-operated door and showing, what is more significant, the attachment-type slam preventing noise silencing check attachment, the shock-absorbing and silencing ball or bob being interposed between the door and jamb after which it automatically swings out of the way and permits the door to close fully.

FIG. 2 is a view with parts in section and elevation showing the upper and lower manually regulated screw-threaded shafts and the associated component parts.

FIG. 3 is a view taken approximately on the plane of the vertical section line 33 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the plane of the horizontal line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

The door in FIG. 1 is denoted by the numeral 6, the edge portion being denoted at 8 and the supporting surface by the numeral 10. The conventional door frame is denoted by the numeral 12 and the strip forming the jamb is denoted at 14.

The adapter bracket is denoted, generally stated, by the numeral 16 and is of hollow rectangular box-like form and embodies a back or rear wall 18, an opposed spaced parallel front wall 20, transverse vertical end walls 22 and a horizontal top wall 24. The bottom of this thus constructed housing is open. The upper extending portion of the back wall is fashioned into an attaching flange 26 which when in use is screwed or otherwise fastened as at 28 to the selected surface 10 of the door.

The pendulous unit or member is denoted by the numeral 30 and is characterized by an elongated yoke or arm 32 of the type best shown in FIG. 2. The depending portions 34 of the arm are joined at upper ends by a suitably curved bight portion 36. The lower ends of the portions 34 are connected at diametrically opposite points with an upper end of a sleeve 38 having an axial screw-threaded bore to accommodate the threaded portion 42 of a lengthening and shortening rod 40. The screw-threaded portion is screwed up through and beyond the bore in the sleeve, the lower end portion 44 of the rod being preferably smooth and passing through a central hole provided therefor in a rubber ball-type bumper46. This bumper constitutes a bob and is held in place by an assembling or retaining nut or head 48. In practice this bob or ball is of requisite diameter and is freely turnable on the portion 44 and is of requisite weight and spherical size to serve in the manner shown in FIG. 1.

The hanger means for the upper end of the arm may be otherwise in construction but preferably comprises a simple nut 50 (FIG. 2) which is threaded on a horizontal screw-threaded shaft 52. The lower depending portion of the nut is fashioned into and provides a hanger eye 54 with which the suspended and pivoted end portion 36 of the arm is connected. The end portions of the shaft are fashioned into journals 56 and 58 turnable in bearings provided therefor as at 60 and 62. Suitable shoulders are provided, if desired as at 64. Also the right-hand end portion of the shaft is provided with a shaft turning fingergrip 66 which is properly accessible. Turning the fingergrip and shaft serves to adjust the locale of the hanger nut 50 and also regulates the pivotal action of the arm 32.

A second screw-threaded shaft is provided at 68 and it too is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings provided therefor in the respective end walls 22. One end portion of this shaft is also provided with a shoulder 70 and an adjusting finger grip 72. This shaft is confined for operation in a cylindrical guard 74 which is such that it spans the hollow space between the respective end walls, said guard being fixed and provided on a front side with a horizontal slot 76. This guide slot serves to accommodate a stud 78 carried by and projecting radially from a nut 80 (FIG. 3), the stud projecting beyond the slot and into the path of movement of the pendulous arm 32. Thus these first and second or upper and lower screw-threaded shafts are properly related in respect to each other and the walls of the bracket or housing and provide for adjustment of the pendulous member 32 and relative adjustment of the limit stop stud 78.

The construction as shown and described provides the desired adjustable shafts 52 and 68 and also the adjustable rod 40. The upper adjusting screw shaft 52 determines the location of the ball at its maximum point of swing. The lower thumbscrew assembly adjusts the stop to regulate the length of the throw of the ball. This stop pin or stud must always be toward the jamb side of the door. Accordingly the pendulum or pendulous member will have to be on that side of the stop and changeable depending upon whether it is an inside or outside swinging door. The screw-threaded rod 40 and means as brought out in FIG. 3 regulates the length of the pendulum, it being kept in mind that the pendulum should be extended for a slower-moving door and shortened for a fastermoving door. The ball-type bumper is free to turn so that it has a slight rotation each time on closing and so that the ball will not be sriking the same surface each time and thus become flattened or damaged.

The details of construction are thought to be evident in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The manner in which the attachment is mounted and performs is evident, it is submitted, in FIG. 1. As the door 6 swings toward the jamb the pendulous member 30 tilts or swings out automatically so that it is chocked and thus lodged between the surface 10 of the door and the surface of the jamb 14. Experimental use of the invention has shown that it well serves the purposes for which it has been devised. Accordingly, a more extended description is thought to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A slam preventing and noise silencing check for attachment to a spring-closed door comprising, an adapter bracket designed and adapted to be fixedly mounted on a predetermined area of the jamb striking face of said door, a pendulous member embodying an arm having upper and lower ends, hanger means carried by said adapter bracket, the upper end of said arm being pivotally joined to and operatively suspended from said hanger means, said lower end being freely swingable, a cushioned bob-like bumper mounted on the lower end of said arm and capable of swinging and momentarily lodging itself between contacting surfaces of a fixed jamb and said jamb striking face, respectively, and then freeing, releasing itself, and swinging to and assuming an out-of-the-way position, said hanger means being manually adjustably mounted on said adapter bracket and capable of being positioned in a manner to vary the locale of the pivot point at will, said adapter bracket being provided with a limit stop with which said arm is engageable in a manner to limit the pendulous movement of said arm in a direction toward the free vertical edge of said door.

2. The silencing check defined in claim 1, and wherein said pendulous member is vertically extensible and retractable in a manner to regulate its overall effective length in keeping with the speed of movement of the door from an open to a closed position.

3. The silencing check defined in claim 1, and wherein said cushioned bumper comprises a rubber ball of predetermined weight and spherical size, said ball being swivelly mounted on and freely rotatable relative to the lengthwise dimension of said pendulous member.

4. The silencing check defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said adapter bracket comprises a hollow housing embodying a vertical back wall, an opposed vertical front wall, said walls joined by vertical end walls, and said housing being open at its bottom.

5. A slam preventing noise silencing attachment for the jamb striking face of a spring-operated door comprising a hollow open-bottom housing, said housing constituting an adapter bracket and embodying a vertical back wall, a vertical front wall, vertical end walls, a horizontal top wall and an attaching flange in a plane common with the plane of said back wall and projecting above the level of said top wall, a first horizontal screw-threaded shaft located in the hollow portion of said housing and bridging the space between said end walls and journaled for rotation in bearings provided therefor in said end walls, a nut adjustably threaded on said shaft and having a depending hanger eye, a complemental pendulous member characterized by a vertically elongated U-shaped arm embodying a bight portion at its upper end pivotally hung and suspended from said eye, and a sleeve at its lower end, said sleeve having an axial screw-threaded bore, a screw-threaded rod screwed upwardly through and beyond said said sleeve and having a lower end portion, a compressibly resilient ball-type bumper swivelly mounted on said lower end portion, said ball being adapted to momentarily lodge and chock itself between oriented surfaces of the jamb and door, respectively, after which it automatically tilts and frees and releases itself and swings to and hangs in a neutral out-of-the-way position.

6. The slam preventing noise silencing check attachment defined in claim 5, and a second screw-threaded shaft also located in said hollow portion, bridging said space, positioned horizontally in a plane below and parallel with said first shaft and likewise joumaled for rotation in bearings provided therefor in said end walls, a regulating nut threaded on said second shaft and having an integral stud projecting radially from a peripheral edge into the path of movement of said arm and providing a limit stop for said arm.

7. The check attachment defined in claim 6, and wherein said second shaft is confined for rotation in a cylindrical guard also bridging said space and fixed between said end walls, said guard having a longitudinal keying and guide slot in a forward surface portion, said stud being slidingly keyed in and projecting through and forwardly beyond the locale of said slot in a manner to function as said limit stop.

8. A slam preventing and noise silencing check for attachment to a spring-closed door comprising, an adapter bracket designed and adapted to be superimposed on and fixedly mounted on a predetermined upper corner area of the jamb striking face of said door, a pendulous member embodying a rigid vertical arm having upper and lower ends, hanger means for said arm carried by and constituting a component part of said adapter bracket, the upper end of said arm being pivotally joined to and operatively suspended from said hanger means, said lower end being freely swingable, a cushioned ball-like bumper removably mounted on the lower end of said arm and capable of swinging and momentarily but removably lodging itself between contacting surfaces of a door jamb and said jamb striking face, respectively, and then completely freeing, releasing itself, and swinging to and assuming an out-of-the-way position, said hanger means being adjustably mounted on said adapter bracket and being capable of assuming a predetermined position in a manner to vary the locale of the pivot point of said upper end at will, said arm being extensible and retractable in a manner to regulate the over-all effective length of the arm in keeping with the speed of movement of the door from an open to a closed position.

9. The silencing and check attachment defined in claim 8 and wherein said adapter bracket is provided in a plane below said hanger means with a limit stop stud, said stud being adjustably mounted on said adapter bracket in the path of movement of said arm and in a manner to regulate the over-all effective length in keeping with the speed of movement of the door from an open to a closed position. 

1. A slam preventing and noise silencing check for attachment to a spring-closed door comprising, an adapter bracket designed and adapted to be fixedly mounted on a predetermined area of the jamb striking face of said door, a pendulous member embodying an arm having upper and lower ends, hanger means carried by said adapter bracket, the upper end of said arm being pivotally joined to and operatively suspended from said hanger means, said lower end being freely swingable, a cushioned bob-like bumper mounted on the lower end oF said arm and capable of swinging and momentarily lodging itself between contacting surfaces of a fixed jamb and said jamb striking face, respectively, and then freeing, releasing itself, and swinging to and assuming an out-of-the-way position, said hanger means being manually adjustably mounted on said adapter bracket and capable of being positioned in a manner to vary the locale of the pivot point at will, said adapter bracket being provided with a limit stop with which said arm is engageable in a manner to limit the pendulous movement of said arm in a direction toward the free vertical edge of said door.
 2. The silencing check defined in claim 1, and wherein said pendulous member is vertically extensible and retractable in a manner to regulate its overall effective length in keeping with the speed of movement of the door from an open to a closed position.
 3. The silencing check defined in claim 1, and wherein said cushioned bumper comprises a rubber ball of predetermined weight and spherical size, said ball being swivelly mounted on and freely rotatable relative to the lengthwise dimension of said pendulous member.
 4. The silencing check defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said adapter bracket comprises a hollow housing embodying a vertical back wall, an opposed vertical front wall, said walls joined by vertical end walls, and said housing being open at its bottom.
 5. A slam preventing noise silencing attachment for the jamb striking face of a spring-operated door comprising a hollow open-bottom housing, said housing constituting an adapter bracket and embodying a vertical back wall, a vertical front wall, vertical end walls, a horizontal top wall and an attaching flange in a plane common with the plane of said back wall and projecting above the level of said top wall, a first horizontal screw-threaded shaft located in the hollow portion of said housing and bridging the space between said end walls and journaled for rotation in bearings provided therefor in said end walls, a nut adjustably threaded on said shaft and having a depending hanger eye, a complemental pendulous member characterized by a vertically elongated U-shaped arm embodying a bight portion at its upper end pivotally hung and suspended from said eye, and a sleeve at its lower end, said sleeve having an axial screw-threaded bore, a screw-threaded rod screwed upwardly through and beyond said said sleeve and having a lower end portion, a compressibly resilient ball-type bumper swivelly mounted on said lower end portion, said ball being adapted to momentarily lodge and chock itself between oriented surfaces of the jamb and door, respectively, after which it automatically tilts and frees and releases itself and swings to and hangs in a neutral out-of-the-way position.
 6. The slam preventing noise silencing check attachment defined in claim 5, and a second screw-threaded shaft also located in said hollow portion, bridging said space, positioned horizontally in a plane below and parallel with said first shaft and likewise journaled for rotation in bearings provided therefor in said end walls, a regulating nut threaded on said second shaft and having an integral stud projecting radially from a peripheral edge into the path of movement of said arm and providing a limit stop for said arm.
 7. The check attachment defined in claim 6, and wherein said second shaft is confined for rotation in a cylindrical guard also bridging said space and fixed between said end walls, said guard having a longitudinal keying and guide slot in a forward surface portion, said stud being slidingly keyed in and projecting through and forwardly beyond the locale of said slot in a manner to function as said limit stop.
 8. A slam preventing and noise silencing check for attachment to a spring-closed door comprising, an adapter bracket designed and adapted to be superimposed on and fixedly mounted on a predetermined upper corner area of the jamb striking face of said door, a pendulous member embodying a rigid Vertical arm having upper and lower ends, hanger means for said arm carried by and constituting a component part of said adapter bracket, the upper end of said arm being pivotally joined to and operatively suspended from said hanger means, said lower end being freely swingable, a cushioned ball-like bumper removably mounted on the lower end of said arm and capable of swinging and momentarily but removably lodging itself between contacting surfaces of a door jamb and said jamb striking face, respectively, and then completely freeing, releasing itself, and swinging to and assuming an out-of-the-way position, said hanger means being adjustably mounted on said adapter bracket and being capable of assuming a predetermined position in a manner to vary the locale of the pivot point of said upper end at will, said arm being extensible and retractable in a manner to regulate the over-all effective length of the arm in keeping with the speed of movement of the door from an open to a closed position.
 9. The silencing and check attachment defined in claim 8 and wherein said adapter bracket is provided in a plane below said hanger means with a limit stop stud, said stud being adjustably mounted on said adapter bracket in the path of movement of said arm and in a manner to regulate the over-all effective length in keeping with the speed of movement of the door from an open to a closed position. 